What is One Area Pittsburgh Steelers Must Improve Immediately?

By Michael Terrill

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The numbers the Pittsburgh Steelers have put up this season when it comes to running the football are laughable. It is clearly the Achilles heel of the football team and a huge reason why they are 0-4 through the first quarter of the season. There is no question that an improved rushing attack must become a reality if the Steelers want to string some wins together.

Pittsburgh has averaged a dismal 58 rushing yards per game, which ranks 29th in the NFL. The fact that two other teams have posted worse numbers is incredible. I would have assumed the Steelers were by far the worst running team in the league.

Part of the problem is Pittsburgh not sticking with the run. Obviously, not being able to pick up any yards by rushing is a reason to want to give up. However, not giving the run game a chance is not doing anybody any favors. I believe the Steelers must be aggressive with their play calling right away in games by going through the air. Using the pass to set up the run is the only way the team will have any success on the ground this season.

Running backs Felix Jones (19 rushes, 74 yards), Le’Veon Bell (16 rushes, 57 yards) and Jonathan Dwyer (15 rushes, 48 yards) make up three-fourths of the total rushing yards. However, none of them have been able to crack the 100-yard mark through four games. The good news is that the Steelers have certainly made progress in those four games, with Bell being the reason for it.

“I think it’s gotten better every week,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said, according to Steelers.com. “Therefore, I think we’ve cleaned things up and we’ve gotten better. I thought the young fellow [Le’Veon Bell] did a good job of showing glimpses at times of what he can do. I am excited. I was happy for him. I told him on the plane home that I thought he did a good job. Just keep going, because he showed some really good things.”

Bell certainly gives Pittsburgh hope that an existent rushing attack is in the cards this season.